Ramsay Short is the 28th person and 13th Arkansan to be featured in Arvest Bank’s People Helping People video series. The series is designed to celebrate individuals in the communities Arvest serves who are uniquely making a difference. The idea came from the bank’s mission statement: “People helping people find financial solutions for life.”

The MarCom Award-winning videos are available via Arvest’s social media channels – YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and the Arvest Blog – and the bank will make related posts each time a new story appears. Additionally, Arvest social media followers can help spread the word about these inspiring community members by sharing, liking and retweeting the videos. Short’s video will launch on Dec. 8.

Short’s idea to make pens and sell them in part to benefit the needy came after his father was gifted a wooden pen. Shortly thereafter, Short brought $100 he had been given for good grades to his father and asked if they could invest in a wood lathe to make pens.

“I kinda looked at him like he was crazy, because what 11-year-old wants to buy a wood lathe?” Wilson Short said.

Since then, the two have worked together to make and sell about 150-200 pens. And with each sale, Ramsay Short puts $1 in the bank.

Once Short has $100 in the bank, he then makes a donation to River Valley Food 4 Kids. The $100 is enough to feed one child for a year, and River Valley Food 4 Kids currently serves more than 1,000 children in Russellville, Atkins, Pottsville and Dover schools.

The Shorts do other philanthropic work as well, but making the pens, which take 30-40 minutes to make, is among their favorite times spent together.

“It’s time that I’d never get back with him,” Wilson Short said. “I’m just proud of him.”

About Arvest Bank

Arvest Bank, named by Forbes magazine as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” for 2017, operates more than 250 bank branches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas through a group of 16 locally managed banks, each with its own board and management team. These banks serve customers in more than 120 communities, with extended weekday banking hours at many locations. Arvest also provides a wide range of banking services including loans, deposits, treasury management, credit cards, mortgage loans and mortgage servicing. Arvest is an Equal Housing Lender and Member FDIC.

Investment products and services are provided by Arvest Investments, Inc., doing business as Arvest Asset Management, member FINRA/SIPC, an SEC registered investment adviser and a subsidiary of Arvest Bank. Trust services are provided by Arvest Bank. Insurance products are made available through Arvest Insurance, Inc., which is registered as an insurance agency. Insurance products are marketed through Arvest Insurance, Inc., but are underwritten by insurance companies.
Securities and Insurance Products: Not Insured by FDIC or any Federal Government Agency, May Lose Value, Not a Deposit of or Guaranteed by a Bank or any Bank Affiliate.